Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)
Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)
Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)
Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)
Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
(4)
Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)
Keith W.
My favorite place to eat in Mt. Pleasant. Hands down.
(5)
Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)
Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)
Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)
T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)
Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)
Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)
Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)
Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)
Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)
Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)
Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)
Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)
Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)
George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)
Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)
Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)
Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)
Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)
David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)
E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)
Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)
Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)
Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)
Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)
Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)
Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)
Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)
Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)
Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)
Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)
Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)
Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)
Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)
Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)
Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)
Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)
Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)
Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)
Melanie R.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)
Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)
Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)
Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)
Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)
J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)
Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)
Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)
Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)
Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)
Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)
Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)
Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)
Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)
John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)
Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
(5)
Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)
Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)
Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)
Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)
Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)
Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)
Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)
Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)
Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)
Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)
Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)
Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)
Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)
lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)
William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)
Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)
William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)
nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)
Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)
Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)
Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)
Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)
Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)
Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)
Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)
Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)
Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)
Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)
Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)
Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)
Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)
Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)
Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)
Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)
Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)
Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)
Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)
Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)
Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)
Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)
Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)
Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)
Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)
JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)
Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)
Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)
Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)
JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)
Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)
Harold W.
Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)
Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
(4)
Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)
Candyce V.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)
Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
Amazing!! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. Elly was our waitress and the service was incredible! I would recommend this for anyone, there are plenty of options for everyone.
(5)
Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)
Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)
Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)
Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)
Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)
Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)
Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)
Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)
T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)
Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)
Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)
Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)
Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)
Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)
Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)
Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)
Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)
Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)
Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)
Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)
Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)
George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)
Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)
Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)
Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)
David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)
E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)
Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)
Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)
Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)
Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)
Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)
Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)
Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)
Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)
Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)
Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)
William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)
Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)
Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)
Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)
Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)
Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)
Melanie R.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)
Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)
Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)
Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)
Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)
J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)
Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)
Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)
Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)
Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)
Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)
Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)
Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)
Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)
John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)
Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
(5)
Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)
Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)
Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)
Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)
Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)
Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)
Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)
Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)
Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)
Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)
Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)
Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)
Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)
Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)
Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)
Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)
Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)
Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)
Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)
Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)
Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)
Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)
Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)
Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)
Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)
Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)
Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)
Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)
Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)
Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)
Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)
Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)
Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)
Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)
Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)
William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)
nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)
Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)
Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)
Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)
lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)
Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)
Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)
Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)
Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)
Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)
Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)
Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)
Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
(5)
Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)
nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)
Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)
Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)
Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)
lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)
Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)
Jenny M.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)
Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)
Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)
Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)
John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)
Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)
Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)
Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)
Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)
Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)
J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)
Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)
Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)
Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)
William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)
Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)
Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)
Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)
Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)
Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)
Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)
Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)
Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)
Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)
Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)
Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)
Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)
Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)
Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)
Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)
Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)
Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)
Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)
Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)
Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)
Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)
Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)
Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)
Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)
Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)
Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)
Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)
William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)
JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)
Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)
Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)
Harold W.
Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)
Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
Amazing!! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. Elly was our waitress and the service was incredible! I would recommend this for anyone, there are plenty of options for everyone.
(5)
Candyce V.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)
Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
(4)
Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)
Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)
Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)
Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)
Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)
Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)
Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)
Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)
T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)
Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)
Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)
Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)
Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)
Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)
Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)
Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)
Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)
Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)
Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)
George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)
Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)
Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)
Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)
Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)
David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)
E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)
Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)
Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)
Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)
Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)
Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)
Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)
Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)
Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)
Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)
Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)
Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)
Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)
Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)
Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)
Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)
Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)
Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)
Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)
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Address :1968 Riviera Dr,Unit O
Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Harold W.
Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
(4)Wendy F.
We've dined at Crave many times since our first visit during Restaurant Week (September 2015) and have not been disappointed; so, when Crave was mentioned on Eater as one of 5 area restaurants showcasing soft shell crabs, it was a no brainier. As a long time Maryland resident, my bar was set pretty high. I won't keep you in suspense, they did not disappoint. Crave has a large, gracious outdoor dining area; however, we opted for indoor seating. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a hostess and escorted to our spacious, comfortable booth. Our server, Harrison, quickly approached our booth with a big bottle of ice cold water and described the evening's specials. Crave always has many creative and seasonal cocktails, a good wine list and wonderful specials; however, as a woman on a mission, it didn't take me long to make my selection. I opted for a simple Chardonnay wine spritzer. It quickly arrived ... a cool, tall, perfect mix of wine, club soda and lots of lemons and limes. My husband ordered, and was satisfied, with his glass of the house red wine. Next to arrive was a basket of warm sweet potato muffins served with delicious honey maple butter. Delish! My husband's starter was a cup she crab soup ($6.00). He really liked the texture (lumpy) and seasoning. I didn't taste it as I was too busy devouring my first course ... a big, big bowl of plump, juicy PEI mussles ($10.00). Crave offers two preparations ... creamy white wine and red curry. I selected the former ... hold the cream, thank you.). The order comes with a big slice of buttered and grilled baguette ... a perfect size and texture to mop up the wonderful broth. Soft shell crabs were offered as both an appetizer (one priced at $16.00) and entree (two, priced at $32.00), I opted for the appetizer portion and after the mussels, it was adequate... in fact, it was a perfect choice. What can I say... the dish arrived with a large, plump, juicy beauty that was flash fried and tossed in roasted garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper on a bed of spring mix, sliced avocado and creamy goat cheese. I was a very happy camper ... and, no, I did not share. My husband was quite satisfied with his perfectly grilled 3/4 lb. house ground black angus burger topped with a good amount of sautéed mushrooms ($12.00). He opted for a side Caesar salad (he loves the dressing) instead of fries (which I think, was a mistake as Crave's fries are top notch ... always a huge portion, crispy and perfectly salted). Crave has many delicious dessert selections. One of the seasonal specials, a cobbler made with fresh, local Boone Hall Farms strawberries, baked in a homemade cobbler dough, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with a strawberry coulis ($9.00) was very appealing; however, we were both comfortably full and passed on dessert. I want to give a shout out to our terrific server, Harrison. He was friendly, attentive and perfectly timed the arrival of our courses. This restaurant has it all ... convenient location (Seaside Farms); plenty of parking; delicious and creative menu selections, wonderful servers and fair prices. What can I say ... we love Crave!
(5)Candyce V.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
(4)Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)Keith W.
My favorite place to eat in Mt. Pleasant. Hands down.
(5)Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
(5)Elizabeth A.
I was blown away by the quality, atmosphere, and deliciousness at Crave! I can't believe a place this amazing is so close to the beach. My boyfriend and I stayed on Isle of Palms and were looking for a new place to try by the end of the week. I only wish we had discovered Crave earlier in the week, we might have eaten there every night! There's always next summer... The atmosphere here is nice, fancy but cozy. I don't think you wanna roll up here in a bathing suit and cover up or board shorts. Just a pair of jeans and dress shirt/blouse will do fine. We started with the Brie Bites ($9). Here is the description from their website: "Decadent French Triple Créme Brie rolled in Panko bread crumbs then fried to a golden brown, served with house-made dried apple chips and a grape and bell pepper marmalade." Ummmm how could any cheese lover resist that? Only the apple chips were okay, the rest of it was AMAZING. I had a difficult time not licking the plate. My boyfriend ordered the Short Ribs ($18) and was on Cloud 9. I'm not a meat eater myself, but he said they were tender and full of flavor. They were served on jasmine rice. With a heaping stack of julienned vegetables on top. I ordered the Seasonal Salad ($11). My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The base was a mix of swiss chard, kale, and another green I didn't recognize. Topped with toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted beets, sweet potato crutons, and brie cheese. I had the champagne vinaigrette on the side. I couldn't have asked for a better salad. Very hearty and filling for the size. I also ordered a side of the Boursin Risotto, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I had it for breakfast the next day instead. Other than being a little salty it was delish. The service was good. In addition to the amazing, high quality food, I really loved the unique/creativeness of Crave. The cheque was brought out on a little wooden plank and we were given a chilled bottle of water served in a green wine bottle. Cool points!
(5)Jenny M.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)Melanie R.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
(5)Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)Harold W.
Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
(4)Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)Candyce V.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
(4)Wendy F.
We've dined at Crave many times since our first visit during Restaurant Week (September 2015) and have not been disappointed; so, when Crave was mentioned on Eater as one of 5 area restaurants showcasing soft shell crabs, it was a no brainier. As a long time Maryland resident, my bar was set pretty high. I won't keep you in suspense, they did not disappoint. Crave has a large, gracious outdoor dining area; however, we opted for indoor seating. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a hostess and escorted to our spacious, comfortable booth. Our server, Harrison, quickly approached our booth with a big bottle of ice cold water and described the evening's specials. Crave always has many creative and seasonal cocktails, a good wine list and wonderful specials; however, as a woman on a mission, it didn't take me long to make my selection. I opted for a simple Chardonnay wine spritzer. It quickly arrived ... a cool, tall, perfect mix of wine, club soda and lots of lemons and limes. My husband ordered, and was satisfied, with his glass of the house red wine. Next to arrive was a basket of warm sweet potato muffins served with delicious honey maple butter. Delish! My husband's starter was a cup she crab soup ($6.00). He really liked the texture (lumpy) and seasoning. I didn't taste it as I was too busy devouring my first course ... a big, big bowl of plump, juicy PEI mussles ($10.00). Crave offers two preparations ... creamy white wine and red curry. I selected the former ... hold the cream, thank you.). The order comes with a big slice of buttered and grilled baguette ... a perfect size and texture to mop up the wonderful broth. Soft shell crabs were offered as both an appetizer (one priced at $16.00) and entree (two, priced at $32.00), I opted for the appetizer portion and after the mussels, it was adequate... in fact, it was a perfect choice. What can I say... the dish arrived with a large, plump, juicy beauty that was flash fried and tossed in roasted garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper on a bed of spring mix, sliced avocado and creamy goat cheese. I was a very happy camper ... and, no, I did not share. My husband was quite satisfied with his perfectly grilled 3/4 lb. house ground black angus burger topped with a good amount of sautéed mushrooms ($12.00). He opted for a side Caesar salad (he loves the dressing) instead of fries (which I think, was a mistake as Crave's fries are top notch ... always a huge portion, crispy and perfectly salted). Crave has many delicious dessert selections. One of the seasonal specials, a cobbler made with fresh, local Boone Hall Farms strawberries, baked in a homemade cobbler dough, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with a strawberry coulis ($9.00) was very appealing; however, we were both comfortably full and passed on dessert. I want to give a shout out to our terrific server, Harrison. He was friendly, attentive and perfectly timed the arrival of our courses. This restaurant has it all ... convenient location (Seaside Farms); plenty of parking; delicious and creative menu selections, wonderful servers and fair prices. What can I say ... we love Crave!
(5)Julia F.
Amazing!! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. Elly was our waitress and the service was incredible! I would recommend this for anyone, there are plenty of options for everyone.
(5)Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
(5)Elizabeth A.
I was blown away by the quality, atmosphere, and deliciousness at Crave! I can't believe a place this amazing is so close to the beach. My boyfriend and I stayed on Isle of Palms and were looking for a new place to try by the end of the week. I only wish we had discovered Crave earlier in the week, we might have eaten there every night! There's always next summer... The atmosphere here is nice, fancy but cozy. I don't think you wanna roll up here in a bathing suit and cover up or board shorts. Just a pair of jeans and dress shirt/blouse will do fine. We started with the Brie Bites ($9). Here is the description from their website: "Decadent French Triple Créme Brie rolled in Panko bread crumbs then fried to a golden brown, served with house-made dried apple chips and a grape and bell pepper marmalade." Ummmm how could any cheese lover resist that? Only the apple chips were okay, the rest of it was AMAZING. I had a difficult time not licking the plate. My boyfriend ordered the Short Ribs ($18) and was on Cloud 9. I'm not a meat eater myself, but he said they were tender and full of flavor. They were served on jasmine rice. With a heaping stack of julienned vegetables on top. I ordered the Seasonal Salad ($11). My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The base was a mix of swiss chard, kale, and another green I didn't recognize. Topped with toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted beets, sweet potato crutons, and brie cheese. I had the champagne vinaigrette on the side. I couldn't have asked for a better salad. Very hearty and filling for the size. I also ordered a side of the Boursin Risotto, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I had it for breakfast the next day instead. Other than being a little salty it was delish. The service was good. In addition to the amazing, high quality food, I really loved the unique/creativeness of Crave. The cheque was brought out on a little wooden plank and we were given a chilled bottle of water served in a green wine bottle. Cool points!
(5)Jenny M.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)Melanie R.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
(5)Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)Meghan C.
We had a surprise date lunch on Saturday and we had always wanted to try Crave but feared it was a little too high brow for the little baby for dinner. We didn't want to go far from our house and JR C. thought of this - I am so happy he did! We arrived and it's nicely designed, and the bar is large. We decided to have lunch there and the bartender was so nice! We started with bloodies - I had the Mary Verde and JR C. had the Roman? I think? Both were large and delicious - a little spendy for $7 but a nice treat. We're not brunch people but they had quite a large selection of non-brekky items. We both settled on the burgers - they were delicious, however medium rare is definitely medium well - have to ding them on that. Next time I know to order a degree down. Oh, they have a large outside dining area - on a nice day on the weekend, I don't think there'd be any problem bringing your kids there.
(4)Troy H.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here the other night to eat. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and friendly. We got an appetizer of macaroni and cheese and just as everyone else says it was outstanding. I got the chicken marsala and it was excellent. My girlfriend got a fillet but she said it was way overpriced for the quality of the steak. In fact she said instead of charging us $40 for the steak it should've been $20-$25. Overall the food was pretty good the atmosphere was really nice and the waitstaff was excellent.
(4)Lauren W.
I cook at home a lot and have been perfecting my Mac and cheese recipe for years. This Mac is the best I've ever tasted, puts mine to shame! The sauce is super creamy and has a sharp delicious cheese flavor. I've also had the fried chicken which is very crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. Salads, burgers, and monte cristo (brunch menu) are also tasty. I've visited just a few times!
(5)Marianne H.
Excellent mac n cheese! We were looking for kid friendly food that would not be too loud for family lunch chatter. (Hate it when you cannot have a conversation at your own table.) This place was perfect! Broccoli on top of my mac n cheese cooked to perfection. Everything was delish! Good service too!
(4)Aaran A.
We experienced excellent service and fantastic food . The macarooni and cheese was amazing . As well the braised shorts ribs . We will definitely go back . Soon I hope
(5)Teresa W.
This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Elly, was wonderful, very attentive and made excellence suggestions. The Mac and cheese is a must! Our party of 9 had a great meal, each of us trying something different. The shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the Charleston were our top picks for brunch! Don't miss this great restaurant!!!
(5)Wade D.
Great food. Great service. Brittany was awesome. Steak was well worth the price!! Awesome neighborhood as well.
(5)Michael P.
Crave is great. It has fantastic Mac and cheese. They've won multiple awards for it. Servers are kind. You get your food quickly. The quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)nicole d.
Went here since I am Gluten Free and they had many options on their online menu. BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD! The evening started with a fantasic server Chris who was very knowledgable of the menu and what is and not gluten free. We started with martinis that were soooo good. I had the peach blossom and my friend had the pomagrante. they were so good I almost ordered another one for dessert BUT the waiter recommended the gf coconut cake instead and I am so glad I ordered it, it was the best coconut cake I have ever had! Now onto the meal....I had the mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and a mango chutney - OMG - the flavors just exploded in your mouth it was so good. My friend had the salmon and she said the same thing. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We had been on vacation for a week along the coast from Savannah - Hilton Head - Charleston and this was the BEST meal we had the whole trip!
(5)Alison D.
I couldn't find many recent reviews of this restaurant but decided to try it anyway since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. Had the rustic bread as an appetizer (rustic Italian bread with prosciutto and gruyere cheese with garlic and olive oil). It was way more than enough for two people to share and very yummy! We split the sea scallop dinner. The lobster risotto that came with the scallops was rich and delicious. Since we split dinner, we had room to try the apple crisp for dessert. Yum! The dessert was probably my favorite. The service was also very good. If we are ever in the area again, we will return to Crave.
(4)Kim H.
Been here twice for brunch. Both times the food have been just ordinary. The omelette was a bit watery though the portion was quite big. The fries were greasy and egg Benedict was bland. I do love the muffins and butter though.
(3)Phil N.
I've been a fan of Landon's menu from when he was at 11 Center St on Folly Beach. I don't mind the drive across town to get the scallops with rutabaga mash - my favorite! Landon's creations show attention to detail and a knowledge of the relationships of flavors. I will definitely return again and again. I do recommend Monday through Thursday for dining nights. The weekend is so busy there, it's just easier and better during the week.
(4)lisa p.
I love Crave, love the bar, love the apps and dinner is a treat. Just recently had brunch there and the eggs benedict were amazing.
(5)Fiona G.
The food was amazing. The presentation was amazing. Nice atmosphere. The bar could be a little bigger and I would love it if they opened before 4pm.
(4)Jenny M.
Went here with some friends who are visiting from DC... Every one of our meals was AMAZING! I had the Hanger Steak, my hubs had the tilapia special, she had the filet and he had the fried chicken... We ate like kings! Portions are definitely enough to share if you have a smaller appetite. Do yourself a favor and order the Brie bites. Their Autumn white sangria is a must try as well! Great date night setting or a more quite spot to eat with friends. Service was wonderful!
(5)Susan M.
An exceptional dining experience!! Mac and cheese is definitely the best. Stellar service!! Awesome atmosphere!!! Fantastic food!!!
(5)Theresa D.
Crave is one of those neither-nor places to me. Nothing is fantastic, nor is it terrible by any means. I know their mac and cheese is considered a favorite, but it doesn't suit my fancy...I just don't enjoy the texture of the cheese sauce personally. The rest of the menu is ok, maybe a little fancier in some aspects than it seems necessary, but the food is good enough. I do think the price, however, is fairly high for the location. And while the servers are always nice, the service can be quite slow, even on quiet nights. You won't have a terrible experience, but I think there are better options around town.
(3)Greg P.
Food was pretty good but the service was HORRIBLE. Management didn't seem too concerned as it was sunday brunch. Much better choices close around
(2)John B.
The food is amazing. We are locals and have yet to order anything that wasn't delicious. The Mac and cheese with pulled pork is simply awesome (the Mac and cheese has won a bunch of awards, I believe), the spinach and tomato grilled cheese was fantastic and the burger (I recommend it with goat cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions) may be the beast in Charleston. We eat here regularly because it's so good. One of the best restaurants in town.
(5)Noël D.
We had a reservation at 845 and were seated right when we walked in. Our server Ellie was excellent and kind. The Mac and cheese IS awesome. As well as the specialty cocktails and our entrees. We were there a little later and didn't feel rushed out at all. Great experience and meal.
(5)Elizabeth A.
I was blown away by the quality, atmosphere, and deliciousness at Crave! I can't believe a place this amazing is so close to the beach. My boyfriend and I stayed on Isle of Palms and were looking for a new place to try by the end of the week. I only wish we had discovered Crave earlier in the week, we might have eaten there every night! There's always next summer... The atmosphere here is nice, fancy but cozy. I don't think you wanna roll up here in a bathing suit and cover up or board shorts. Just a pair of jeans and dress shirt/blouse will do fine. We started with the Brie Bites ($9). Here is the description from their website: "Decadent French Triple Créme Brie rolled in Panko bread crumbs then fried to a golden brown, served with house-made dried apple chips and a grape and bell pepper marmalade." Ummmm how could any cheese lover resist that? Only the apple chips were okay, the rest of it was AMAZING. I had a difficult time not licking the plate. My boyfriend ordered the Short Ribs ($18) and was on Cloud 9. I'm not a meat eater myself, but he said they were tender and full of flavor. They were served on jasmine rice. With a heaping stack of julienned vegetables on top. I ordered the Seasonal Salad ($11). My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The base was a mix of swiss chard, kale, and another green I didn't recognize. Topped with toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted beets, sweet potato crutons, and brie cheese. I had the champagne vinaigrette on the side. I couldn't have asked for a better salad. Very hearty and filling for the size. I also ordered a side of the Boursin Risotto, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I had it for breakfast the next day instead. Other than being a little salty it was delish. The service was good. In addition to the amazing, high quality food, I really loved the unique/creativeness of Crave. The cheque was brought out on a little wooden plank and we were given a chilled bottle of water served in a green wine bottle. Cool points!
(5)Melanie R.
Hmmm....I struggled on rating this one. I came in town for a girls weekend, and there were four in our group. Two of us had the Rockfish, one had a Salmon, and one a ? well I can't remember. The menu is very upscale. You are not going to find your average steak and pasta here. They are very into presentation. The portions are not huge...I see some pics below, which are a pretty accurate representation of the dishes. I thought it was a little of the high side for being outside Charleston, but I guess Wild Dunes is a hot spot. I don't know...I live in Maryland. The restaurant itself is very dark. The walls are maroon, and it is very dimly lit. I did see lots of families with kids, however I doubt I would bring my son to a place like this. It seems more appropriate for a date night or dinner with friends. One comment on dessert...we ordered a slice of cake, which was $9.00. It was so tiny, you could literally eat it in about four bites. Overall...its ok..but not spectacular. It just didn't stand out as one of the best on my trip....and its in a strip mall, not on the water.
(3)Blake F.
Bartenders were super sweet and funny. Clean place. Comfy/cozy bar. And if you want to put love in your mouth, order their mac n cheese! Holy crap it's amazing!
(4)Larry P.
Had dinner with a friend. Service was excellent sitting outside. Had the hanger steak and it was outstanding
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had IN MY LIFE. And trust me, I've eaten a lot of a mac and cheese. A lot. I also love their mussels in the red curry sauce. A really awesome alternative to the usual white wine and garlic they usually come in (although they offer that too and it's equally delish). We've also gotten the Greek dip before, and were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don't do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade. I also love the gluten-free salted caramel chocolate cake. It was, in the words of my mother, "The Bomb." It was so yummy. I don't think I would've known it was gluten-free if they hadn't specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I'm looking at you, Applebee's).
(5)Christi T.
My husband and I had a great experience. The food was great and the service was great as well. My only critic is that the entrees lacked a bit of seasoning.
(4)J P.
Found this on Yelp and it's awesome! Great Mac & cheese you can add topping like pulled pork or chicken. Also having the Green Bean Salad with bacon dressing.. Delicious. A great place for lunch or dinner.
(5)Jason F.
I stopped by here with my fiance and her parents for dinner after the Charleston Marathon. The main reason that we ended up coming here was that I had read that their Mac and cheese was the Three time consecutive winner of the Annual Charleston MAC-OFF Competition and voted "Most Life Changing Mac & Cheese in the Nation" by ESQUIRE Magazine. As a lover of gourmet macaroni and cheese how could I pass up the opporunity to try it? Whenever we arrived at the restaurant I was impressed by the look of the place as it was bright and clean with the color scheme comprised of earthy tones. Upon checking in with the hostess we were immediately taken to our table which ended up being a fairly big booth that seemed to be on a riser. Our table decided to start off our meals by getting two orders of the macaroni and cheese, one for me and one for the rest of the table. Then for my entree I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken which was described as: free range, hormone free local chicken slowly marinated in buttermilk, breaded and fried golden brown. Served with our signature crispy potato salad, local green beans and truffle studded foie gras gravy. The macaroni and cheese came out first and man was it amazing. It was both creamy and decadent with a great cheese flavor and I could easily understand all of the awards that it had won. After we had finished that our entrees came out. My buttermilk fried chicken was also very good as the buttermilk coating was nice and crispy while the chicken inside was hot, moist and juicy. The foie gras gravy was also pretty decadent and while it was good, I didn't really use that much of it. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Our service the whole night was spot on and the food was great, now how can we get a Crave in my hometown of Pittsburgh?
(5)Dan D.
We had a horrible Father's day dinner. The ac wasn't working to its fullest and it was literally hotter inside than outside. We made our reservation today and the ac went out last night. No one said a word about the ac not even when we got there leaving us to discover it when we all began to sweat. I had a baby with me too which made it worse. To make it through dinner I had to keep a cool cloth on her. Our waiter was extremely slow and inattentive too. I left a note saying I'm sorry but the heat was no excuse and we won't be back. The manager came out to our car to ask what happened? Guess he didn't like my answer because he yelled at me that he's glad we won't be back and that he'd spent $1000 on fans! Well I only saw 2 fans at the back near the bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef deserves a metal for cooking in that hot house! Guess from his attitude we weren't the only complaint. They should have cancelled the dinner service or given a warning since we made reservations after the ac went out and we told them we had a baby with us.
(1)Kathy M.
We had a wonderful dining experience. Perfect to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. We started with a table of appetizers. Calamari was perfect. The white broth mussels were divine. Crab cakes done to perfection. My grandson was a little disappointed in the Mac and cheese as it was too creamy. For dinner most of us had the scallops which were some of the best we've ever had. The apple crumble with ice cream was excellent but must be shared. Service was a little slow and chaotic. More so than I would have anticipated for a large group
(4)Ashley G.
Love this place. The service is on point the drinks are delicious and I love how they have a health conscious menu. I will Definitely come back again and again.
(5)William S.
Very average and limited menu.
(2)Dan H.
I have been here a few times now, and this restaurant just seems to keep getting better and better. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the drinks are superb. On my most recent visit we started with the oysters, which were fresh and delicious. For my main dish I had the strip steak. I requested it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. And the mac & cheese is quite simply the best I have ever tasted. I really can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're ever in the Mount Pleasant area, do yourself a favor and check out Crave.
(5)Cyntrice T.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Crave Kitchen and Cocktails for brunch. I went with two friends, and I made reservations because it's a Saturday morning on a holiday weekend. However today reservations weren't needed but it's good to have them just in case. So we started off with the Brie Bites appetizer which were great. We got three large fried brie balls with crisp apply chips. When I cut the ball open the gooey cheese poured out. It was awesome. Also one of my friends go the Apertivo Mimosa, which she really like, but I think it was stronger than she expected. However, judging from the other people in the restaurant it seem to be a very popular drink. For entrees, I got the Crave Big Breakfast; one friend got the Monte Cristo, and my other friend got the Shrimp and Grits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The big breakfast came with scrambled eggs, a waffle, sausage (or bacon) and potatoes. I opted for the sausage because it's locally made and for some reason that always fascinates me. The sausage was really good with a little kick to it. Everything was really good to and the servings were bigger than I expected. Needless to say I was stuffed and couldn't finish everything but it was delicious. My friends also enjoyed their meals. Apparently the fruit compote that comes with the Monte Cristo complemented the sandwich perfectly and the shrimp and grits were good as well. In addition to the food, the service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Two things I really like about Crave are the prices and the fact that they use all locally grown ingredients. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others, and I'd love to go back to try their dinner menu.
(5)Marissa F.
Excellent brunch! Our server, Elly, was fantastic, too. My hubby had the shrimp and grits and I had the waffle breakfast. The corn muffins are really yummy and sweet. The brunch menu has good choices and the entrees include juice or soda as well. Everything was well made and presented. We will definitely be back.
(4)Lara M.
We had an amazing meal at Crave! Visiting from Boston, MA and after having many disappointing dining experiences, we were so happy to have picked this restaurant tonight!! Here's what we loved: great atmosphere, friendly staff, especially our waitress, Ellie, who was amazing! Muscles with red sauce, Cobb salad with warmed grilled chicken and cucumber vinaigrette (made in-house, as well as the croutons), sweet potato fries, strip steak with grilled veggies and the steamed Brocolli. I also had a Cosmo ( or two) made with a local made vodka that was awesome! I highly recommend this restaurant and count yourself lucky if Ellie happens to wait on you!
(5)Marty L.
The best Mac-n-Cheese in the world! I had their award winning chef's secret recipe bowl topped with pulled pork and bacon! I wanted to die right there, happy and fulfilled!
(5)Mica C.
I just moved to Charleston from Chicago and my sister and I stopped by Crave for dinner. The bartender Ashley was amazing. She really made us feel welcome. She sent the GM (Anthony) over to meet us as well. Everyone was so friendly and the mac and cheese and mussels were yummy! We will definitely be returning to Crave.
(5)Sandy S.
Located in Seaside Farmers: Really enjoyed the outside eating area and had the hummus and pita chips. Good selection of beer and wine! I just liked the atmosphere of the place. Great service however it was hard to find parking.
(4)Linda W.
This was our first and last visit to Crave. Upon arrival we were told there was a 30 minute wait. We were offered a table in the bar area, which we selected so we wouldn't have to wait. The table location was fine, but we had no server. The bartender took care of our table. We placed our food order fairly quickly with the bartender. After some time had passed (long enough for the kitchen to prepare and deliver our meals), the bartender discovered she had not ordered our food at all! She brought two cups of their She-Crab Soup for us, since she had made a mistake in not placing our food order. She then said that it wouldn't be too long and we would see our food arrive. After a total of about an hour plus had passed, a restaurant employee (we assume a manager), stopped over and asked if everything was okay. We said "no" and that the length of wait was too long and that the bartender had missed placing our order. He said he would go check on things and returned a short time later to say it would only be a few more minutes. We then asked if they could pack the food up in "to-go" containers, since so much time had passed and he agreed. He also said the food would be on the house, because of the problems we had encountered. We again waited for 10-15 minutes with no one stopping to check on us or bring us the food ordered. Needless to say, we ended up just leaving the restaurant without any dinner and without telling anyone. This was extremely disappointing and almost unbelievable that a restaurant would treat their customers this way. It also makes one wonder .... did they name the restaurant CRAVE because you leave still craving food!
(1)Tommy L.
Short ribs were great and the award winning macaroni was impressive. Service was great.
(5)Amanda K.
Whenever I'm in town, I always make it a point to dine here. The mac n' cheese and the creamed spinach are out of this world. The steak is ok; the sides are what makes it. A little on the high side price-wise but I always leave happy and well fed. The portions are huge. The steak with two sides is enough for two. The coconut cake is delicious and also a huge serving. Come hungry and know you will hate yourself for all the calories and carbs consumed but that it is all worth it.
(4)Sarah G.
Met friends for a drink at the bar first and then had dinner. Was mid week and not too busy. No problem with table and server was attentive and courteous. Food was lovely. We had Rustic Bread to start and then I had Pork Milanese and my husband had Cedar Plank Salmon. Both dishes were very good. As the food was very filling I had no room for dessert. Next time I will skip appetizer and just have an entree and then dessert. I have my eye on the Baked Alaska.
(4)Steven P.
Stylish interior decor. Inviting outdoor seating. Small bar area at front entrance leads to main dining area. I found the oversized booth seats inside a bit uncomfortable. I'll request a table next time. The food was very good, and attractively presented, but I expected a bit more for the price. The servings were rather large so, I guess that is some compensation. However, I would much rather savor every bite of a smaller portion. The butter that accompanied the bread basket was a nice treat. We're pretty sure it had maple syrup in it. The shrimp & avocado appetizer was just okay. The herb-roasted chicken with cheddar grits was good. I would have preferred a small helping of fresh vegetables to replace half the amount of grits. The beef wellington was good but, perhaps, a tad overcooked. It was rather dry. The center cut (bone-in) pork chop with mac 'n cheese was very, very good. The chocolate cake (usually not a favorite dessert of mine) was fabulous. They have a very impressive wine list but, if you like wine, be prepared to pay for a full bottle. The offerings by the glass are minimal and not very intriguing. Sadly, they're no longer carrying the blanc de noir sparkler we really wanted. The tempranillo was hardly a substitute, but it was a good alternative. Our waitress was not really with it. Her actions did not suggest she was there to serve us. At one point she audibly expressed her joy when noticing that the bus boy had done part of her job. Also, her demeanor was just off-putting. Not rude, but certainly not pleasant. I feel I am being generous with my third star. I would need to visit again before genuinely recommending this place.
(3)Suzanne D.
I was incredibly disappointed. First, our waitress knew nothing about their wine selection. Her descriptions of various choices left a lot to be desired. Secondly, the wine was incredibly over priced for a bottle that I wouldn't even rate as mediocre. I would not return.
(2)Susie G.
Nestled in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms is an interesting restaurant, Crave. Before we moved here, Crave was one of our favorite restaurant haunts. It always seemed busy and the bar had a wonderful, busy atmosphere. Upon a recent visit, however, a lot of that appears to have changed. Crave is a restaurant that I want to do well. The menu is a little eclectic, which is a nice change. But on a warm Thursday evening, all they could do was stumble. We were seated in the bar area at a high top. A new addition is a shrill-singing folk singer. We kept thinking that she would take a break, but we were sadly mistaken. Although not busy upon our arrival, our waitress, "Carmen" seemed very busy and not interested in her role in the restaurant. We ordered drinks and she kept mentioning something about "happy hour", but we were uncertain what she meant. Our drinks took a considerable amount of time. Restaurant Pet Peeve #4, can a brother get a coaster or a bev nap with a drink? My drink was watery and the glass was sweating. Each time that I took a sip I had to lean away from the table so that it would not sweat on me or the table itself. We asked about specials (there weren't any, this is a change), and about happy hour. She proceeded to tell us that there was a happy hour menu until 7:00 pm. She was obviously not happy that we'd asked for it and went to rummage through other menus to find a crumpled 4" x 6" listing of bar favorites. We passed. She did recommend the Bruchetta, which was tasty but difficult to eat. It should have been called the Build Your Own Bruchetta as it was a mound of a nice tomato mixture with a hot, deep fried cheese patty on top. Interesting, but disappointing. We ordered two simple things for dinner - side Caesar salad with anchovies and a cheeseburger. I don't know if the restaurant was understaffed but we watched as our waitress picked up tables throughout the restaurant and outside. Our meal took a very long time, easily 35 minutes. During this time our glasses continued to sweat as did we. The restaurant was now hot, shrill sounding and damp. The burger came out as ordered; nice but nothing special. My salad was very warm. I mentioned to Carmen that it was rather warm, that it possibly sat in the window for awhile. To her credit, she offered to take it back and get a new one prepared. My sincere worry was that we'd wait another 30+ minutes for that, so I declined her offer and pushed the salad around my plate. It took a considerable amount of time for her to come back to the table to clear our plates (which she didn't), and give us the check - I just handed her my credit card to speed things up. When I glanced at the bill I noticed a $1.00 charge for anchovies on my salad. Restaurant Pet Peeve #5 - Don't nickel and dime me with small charges, or at least tell me about them. My fondness for the place has waned. Although as I mentioned, I would like them to do well, as the "Eight Ball" would say when turned over, "not likely".
(1)Richard H.
Went there last night. Went to "Happy Hour" then stayed for dinner. Basically their cheap bar brand vodka and whiskey was discounted as well as cheap wine and 3 domestic beers. No real bargains here. Had dinner in the bar. I had the wreakfish which was presented very nicely but just a little overcooked. Good flavor however. Two people in the party had filets which were reasonably priced. They looked good but just lacked flavor. The third person had a crab cake which either had a lot of filler or the crab was pulverized. No real pieces of crabmeatt could be detected. So, overall pretty average. I am beginning to believe that you just get what you pay for.
(3)Evan T.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in the Charleston area. I took my wife here for our anniversary and we were both blown away. The menu is exceptional and even caters to those who follow strict fitness diets such as the Paleo diet popular with CrossFit athletes. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection and the Lobster risotto served with it was exceptional. The prices are moderate for what is served, but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I had no issue shelling out what I did for this meal. There is something for everybody here. You have seafood favorites such as talapia, scallops and shrimp as well as southern favorites such as meatloaf and fried chicken. The mac n' cheese here is award winning and I could see why. I could have sat and filled up on that dish alone. The wine and beer selection is above par and their own blended liquors and mixed drinks are unique and worth a try as well. I had their apple bourbon blend which was very good, I would buy an entire bottle of it. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu top to bottom and are eager to answer questions and give suggestions. This place will defiantly be added to my list of favorite restaurants not only in Charleston, but everywhere I have been. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Amy T.
Best mac n cheese I've ever had. Scallops delicious. Salmon delicious. Tilapia delicious. Brie balls not so great. Service good, atmosphere good. Gluten free coconut cake is amazing!!!
(4)Kate E.
I have only been here for brunch but I have gone 3 times! Each time was absolutely phenomenal. My favorite thing is the lox on a bagel. It comes with a salad with avocado and fresh fruit. My husband is partial to the egg benedicts. There are many other great options as well. Two people can easily eat for under 30 dollars including beverages. 2 for 5 dollars bloody Marys and mimosas are a very welcome bonus!
(5)Julie D.
Had lunch today & once again, Crave did NOT disappoint! We love this place so much! I had the sweet potato chicken sandwich & my husband had the smoked pork sandwich. We shared the Parmesan fries which were delicious! Our server, Barbara, was excellent & it appeared she was handling all of the tables herself. This is one of our favorite places on the planet!
(4)Erin K.
My steak was just a bit overlooked but the presentation and the rest of the meal was fantastic. Will definitely revisit while I'm in town.
(5)Phillip S.
Not good. It is that simple. Poor food and service.
(1)Karen T.
I stopped at Crave for a quick lunch while shopping. I am from Chicago and as soon as I hit the Carolinas I search for shrimp and grits. I was not disappointed in Crave's offering. The shrimp were tender and fresh, the grits were creamy and cheesy and the gravy had bacon and mushrooms and was delicious. My server was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I am going to say this is the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. (My husband says that I say that every time I order them. But I have been disappointed on several occasions and there are so many ways they can be prepared.)
(5)Carl H.
Have been here several times before. Really enjoy their food. Wife and I both had She Crab Soup... Very good. Then she had two appetizers for her entree (calimari and pork sliders), I had their fried chicken, with fried potatoe salad and green beans. The Calibary were well cooked and tender; loved their sauce. Wife enjoyed the pork sliders. My Fried Chicken was VERY Crispy and tender. Green beans were great. However, the fried potatoe salad had great flavor but was overly salty. Come to think of it, the batter on the fried chicken was also just a pinch salty, just not as bad as the potatoe salad. I usually have NO complaints when I come here to still give it a 4 star rating.
(4)Dana K.
Excellent food & service! I ordered scallops over lobster rissotto & my husband ordered the special, sweet tea marinated carolina trout. Both were delicious but the trout was awesome! They were very helpful with our son's special dietary needs due to his metabolic disorder.
(4)Nick F.
One of the best meals I've had in my life (and at 70 I've had many)! I had the cedar plank salmon, and my companions had the sea bass and hanger steak. For dessert we had the chocolate peanut butter fondue, apple crisp, and double chocolate cake. All were exceptional. I may just have to move to Mt. Pleasant.
(5)Sarah J.
Before hearing all the rave reviews and that "the chef from Crave" had won 'best macaroni and cheese' at the annual Mac Off two years in a row, I had no idea where Crave was. I'll tell you where it is, right in the middle of a shopping center just across from Target in Mt Pleasant. My last experience at Crave was with a friend and local food blogger who had been personally invited by the chef. We had the most amazing vegetarian meal. Course after course, Chef Ganstrom allowed his creativity to shine and we were delightfully satisfied. A dessert consisting of baked pears, blueberries, Humboldt fog cheese, salted caramel, and walnuts was simply out of this world and solid proof Chef Ganstrom knows how to combine flavors and please the palate. On less special occasions, dinner is great , the salads are huge, and the wine and cocktails are reasonably priced. The dessert menu intrigued me, particularly the "frozen Alaska" dessert , and I can't wait to go back while my parents are in town next week. Oh, and try brunch. After the my first experience, this is the kind of place with a talented chef and great service I want to see do well. Highly recommend the Hungry Meets Healthy Review: bit.ly/GF0zDo
(4)Ric D.
I have a vacation home in the Seaside Farms community. Crave has been a favorite for several years. 4 out of 6 entrees were below par. Crave has been know for preparing grilled fish with great sauces . Things have changed. Apparently a change in ownership. Most of the familiar faces are gone. Last night 4 different types of fish were all way overcooked. Service was slow. A manager apologized, but probably should have done more. Our tab was over $200. Unfortunately, I don't think they will survive. While the seasonal -tourist based traffic may keep them afloat, the locals have too many other good options.
(1)Hank M.
Ok, first off, I'll come right out and say that we went here because someone gave us a gift certificate to dine here. Had we not had the gift certificate, we probably wouldn't have dined here until we happened to be in the Mt Pleasant area looking for a place to eat. We started off with the rustic bread appetizer. Honestly, we should have sent it back. The bread was great, but it was covered in what can only be described as some sort of Oscar Myer ham concoction with canned whole tomatoes. Strike One. My entree was the plank salmon. It conjured up all sorts of things in my imagination - none of them all that positive. Dry, flaky, and pretty much tasteless. Maybe that's what they were going for here, but I'd pull this off the menu and refine it right away. I left 3/4 of it on my plate. The waitress asked me "Wasn't it great?" Obviously she didn't have the sense to look at my plate before asking that question. Strike Two. My much better looking dinner companion, had the herb roasted chicken and roasted corn and cheddar stone ground grits. After a few bites, it was obvious that the chicken was on the same level of quality as the salmon (read: not good). We picked at it and couldn't bring ourselves to eat more than a few bites. But the grits underneath were amazing. How can you get something so fickle to prepare (grits) correct, and then completely botch something much more simple (roasted chicken)? Unbelievable. Strike Three. But wait. We still had a bit of money on the gift certificate, and knew we definitely didn't want to come back for dinner here again. So what do you do? Give the rest to the server as a tip? Not in this case - the service was average at best. Should we just chuck the remaining gift certificate into the trash? No, that wouldn't be very financially responsible in these hard times. So what did we do? We ordered the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fondue. WOW. I'd come back here just for that. There's a mix of fruit and brownies that they serve with this dish, and they both go with the fondue amazingly. This was BY FAR one of the best desserts I have had within the past several years. Maybe we should have ordered some more fondue and poured it on our entrees? Then we actually would have eaten them! So to wrap it up: Service - Just ok Entrees - Pretty bad Dessert - I'll be back for this alone
(2)William G.
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews... But I was pleasantly surprised! Our service, meal was really outstanding. I would eat here again in a heartbeat!
(5)JP S.
A sure fix and remedy from the disastrous evening before. We came in with higher expectations and were not disappointed. Recoiling from the bad dining experience of the evening before this dinner gave us renewed hope in the gastronomic offerings of Mt. Pleasant once again. The illustrious mayor of Charleston sat at an adjacent table; that was also reassuring. The evening opened with Timothy our waiter serving us under iffy skies. It had rained just hours before, but the outdoor dining that evening was so enticing we opted to take the chance. Still but cool air, torches burning and the subtle white noise of other distant conversations made it feel very intimate as an outdoor dining experience. Timothy's recommendations off the main menu and the special menu were helpful. However, he did underestimate the size of the portions. We walked away with to-go boxes after dinner and had no room for dessert. My wife opted for an appetizers to make up her dinner... the Brie Bites were fabulous and the Spicy Tuna appetizer was a stacked sushi grade tuna and avocado dish accompanied by plantains. I had the heated Mediterranean Salad for openers and the Short Ribs as my entree. Both amazingly wonderful. SaleebScore: Food:9.5/10; Service: 9/10; Atmosphere: 8/10; Value: 8/10
(5)Frank G.
Very nice. I'm not sure why people had issues but Brunch, was good. Mac and cheese is good. The food is not great, but good. People are nice, restaurant is very pleasing to the eye. Prices are like any other place like this. I would go back, no problem. Frank G
(4)Apearl C.
We stayed at a hotel across the street from Crave and noticed how busy there were on Friday night. We decided to try them on Saturday for lunch. Whew I am happy we did! Everything about this place is awesome! Food, Drinks, Service, and even the bread! I will admit I was doubtful when I heard the server's excitement and pride as he talked about their award winning mac-n-cheese. We decided to try it with broccoli and chicken. We also ordered a sweet potato chicken salad with champagne vinaigrette. The bread/muffins they serve is moist and very tasty. Our food came out in about 15 minutes. Both were good but the salad was by far my favorite. The portions are large. I really need one of these restaurants to open in Atlanta!
(5)Harold W.
Let me star by saying the food was delicious. This rating is based solely on our server who may quite possibly single-handedly ruined my whole dining experience here. We came here thinking about the Mac and Cheese that has been raved about by so many. So our first experience was to walk to the hostess since we ma e a reservation via OpenTable and we wanted to sit outside. It's a beautiful day. The hostess got us a table beneath a tree for some shade. Which unfortunately was occupied because some people decided to by-pass the hostess and seat themselves. There are signs on the sidewalks near the entrances that clearly state to see hostess for seating. She also states those signs were there. She did find us another spot beneath another tree. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks 12 minutes to be exact and the couple who took our table was enjoying their bread basket and food that they had ordered. I was thinking maybe they knew what they wanted and placed their order immediately and possibly the bread basket may have had to be asked for. Before we got a chance to ask about it our appetizer of Mac n Cheese shows up. It was heavenly, rich and decadent. Well worth the wait. I'm glad we were splitting it because it was a lot for one person to tackle. Only 2-3 bites into this delicious Mac n Cheese our entrees show up. I was thinking it was early but ok. The server also apologized for the entrees showing up so early in the appetizer. I had the Shrimp n Grits and Danny had the Turkey Club with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette . My food was nicely flavored and proportioned. My only concern is I don't like the tail in my shrimp it is uncomfortable for me to eat in a meal where everything is mixed in. Now there was an odd line of something in the middle that was a little spicy and red meat looking. I tired it but didn't like it. So I ate around it. It looked like ground beef with chili oil. Everything else was fine. I realized I still had water that took a long time to refill just once. The server asked if we wanted anything to drink. Now I remembered on the menu that the entrees were a deal because they came with a juice or soda. We had already asked for our check by his time. So it took awhile for us to get our check which was enough for me to rethink my dining experience. 1) some couple not only got our good seat but the good server we were supposed to have 2) our server was slow but polite I will give him that. 3) we didn't get our complimentary yes complimentary bread basket 4) we didn't get our "best deal" since juice and soda was included juice or soda When I asked our server about the the missing basket and since it was our first time were we supposed to ask for it, his answer was he brings out the basket when it's fresh. I asked him to look around and notice that EVERYONE had a basket. I listed to the table next to us order and they didn't ask for it but it was brought to them. He offered to bring me some muffins to go. I declined because I was already irritated by his answer. When I asked him about the juice or soda being missing he said he was waiting for me to decide what I wanted to drink. He did apologize for the missing items.
(1)Diva J.
the beginning, I started to write a negative review. While I was writing it, I decided to speak to the waitress and manager and they made everything a lot better. I really enjoyed myself. altogether, the service was outstanding. I recommend if you order an appetizer, ask how big is the portion size.
(4)Wendy F.
We've dined at Crave many times since our first visit during Restaurant Week (September 2015) and have not been disappointed; so, when Crave was mentioned on Eater as one of 5 area restaurants showcasing soft shell crabs, it was a no brainier. As a long time Maryland resident, my bar was set pretty high. I won't keep you in suspense, they did not disappoint. Crave has a large, gracious outdoor dining area; however, we opted for indoor seating. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a hostess and escorted to our spacious, comfortable booth. Our server, Harrison, quickly approached our booth with a big bottle of ice cold water and described the evening's specials. Crave always has many creative and seasonal cocktails, a good wine list and wonderful specials; however, as a woman on a mission, it didn't take me long to make my selection. I opted for a simple Chardonnay wine spritzer. It quickly arrived ... a cool, tall, perfect mix of wine, club soda and lots of lemons and limes. My husband ordered, and was satisfied, with his glass of the house red wine. Next to arrive was a basket of warm sweet potato muffins served with delicious honey maple butter. Delish! My husband's starter was a cup she crab soup ($6.00). He really liked the texture (lumpy) and seasoning. I didn't taste it as I was too busy devouring my first course ... a big, big bowl of plump, juicy PEI mussles ($10.00). Crave offers two preparations ... creamy white wine and red curry. I selected the former ... hold the cream, thank you.). The order comes with a big slice of buttered and grilled baguette ... a perfect size and texture to mop up the wonderful broth. Soft shell crabs were offered as both an appetizer (one priced at $16.00) and entree (two, priced at $32.00), I opted for the appetizer portion and after the mussels, it was adequate... in fact, it was a perfect choice. What can I say... the dish arrived with a large, plump, juicy beauty that was flash fried and tossed in roasted garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper on a bed of spring mix, sliced avocado and creamy goat cheese. I was a very happy camper ... and, no, I did not share. My husband was quite satisfied with his perfectly grilled 3/4 lb. house ground black angus burger topped with a good amount of sautéed mushrooms ($12.00). He opted for a side Caesar salad (he loves the dressing) instead of fries (which I think, was a mistake as Crave's fries are top notch ... always a huge portion, crispy and perfectly salted). Crave has many delicious dessert selections. One of the seasonal specials, a cobbler made with fresh, local Boone Hall Farms strawberries, baked in a homemade cobbler dough, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with a strawberry coulis ($9.00) was very appealing; however, we were both comfortably full and passed on dessert. I want to give a shout out to our terrific server, Harrison. He was friendly, attentive and perfectly timed the arrival of our courses. This restaurant has it all ... convenient location (Seaside Farms); plenty of parking; delicious and creative menu selections, wonderful servers and fair prices. What can I say ... we love Crave!
(5)Julia F.
Amazing!! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. Elly was our waitress and the service was incredible! I would recommend this for anyone, there are plenty of options for everyone.
(5)Candyce V.
I'm obsessed with their mac and cheese! Once I read that Esquire named it the best, I had to see for myself. I order it with lobster, which includes a bit of a pricey upcharge of $15...but it's worth it to me. I've also had the scallops with lobster risotto and green beans, and that entree was yummy too. Every time I come home to Mt. Pleasant to visit the fam, I make a stop here. I actually visited about a week ago, and delayed my trip back to Atlanta (which made me get back around midnight on a Sunday). Also totally worth it. The cocktails are good too. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I tweet them every time I visit, to express my love and devotion to them.
(5)Heather N.
We ordered way too much food for two people, but oh well. According to their menu, they are famous for their mac and cheese (The most award winning Mac & Cheese in the country! Chef Landen uses 10 year, cave aged, sharp cheddar with cavatappi pasta and a few secret ingredients), so naturally we both wanted to check it out. I didn't want only mac and cheese though, so we ordered that for us to share, and Graham went with the blackened fish tacos (pan-seared, blackened white fish with three warm flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, red onions, and house-made Chipotle Mayonnaise), and I had the grilled chicken wrap (grilled all natural chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cucumber, and avocado). Graham's tacos were amazing. He loved that they used huge fish filets instead of pieces of fish. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. Macaroni and cheese should not be baked, people! It should be this! A bowl of cheesy, creamy, deliciousness. Their menu proclaims it is the most award-winning mac and cheese in the country, so if you're ever in the area, you absolutely have to try it. You can get it "plain", like we did, or you can meat or seafood to it. If we ever find ourselves in Mt. Pleasant again, I want this with bacon & scallops. My wrap was okay. It was supposed to come with avocado, and it didn't (#sadpanda), but it was good. Since I don't care for mayonnaise, I ordered it without it, so it was a little dry. The avocado would have fixed that, but oh well. Luckily I had a salad with my wrap, and chose the bacon vinaigrette for the dressing. Holy crap, it was good! I never use much dressing on my salads, but I wanted to eat this up with a spoon! The salad was surprisingly delicious as well. I never expect much from side salads, so this was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it was a good experience. Good food. Nice to get away from the crowded streets of Charleston for a little bit. We got there as soon as they opened, so since we had the place all to ourselves, the service was pretty excellent.
(4)Kennan K.
Amazing service paired with amazing food. Highly recommended.
(5)Becky P.
We stopped in at Crave after a long day of traveling and were so delighted with this great restaurant. Our waiter was quite possibly the best ever! He was knowledgeable, courteous and very attentive. All of our entrees were divine. I would definite recommend Crave to those looking for great atmosphere, food and price!
(4)Jim F.
Went there this weekend. Burger had a very "chard" taste as if it was cooked on an open flame at a very high temperature. Not very good at all. Fries were great! Service on the other hand was very slow and our waitress seemed to be in another world, constantly forgetting parts of our order. Inside of restaurant seemed in major need of an update and had a musky smell to it. Manager was very nice and did a good job of "making the rounds". He may be on the wrong horse long term. Probably wont be back.
(1)Lily H.
Headed out to Crave for brunch recently. My friend Sydney G. looovvvves their Mac and cheese and I had never been so we figured we'd give it a shot. The interior isnt what I expected. With all the deep red and black it kind of looked like it was decorated by a vampire, but sitting by a window made it feel less lair-ish. Our waiter was awesome for a hungover Saturday morning brunch, a good sarcastic sense of humor. I had high expectations for the Mac and cheese that we ordered as an appetizer, but it came out just slightly warm. The flavor was great but if the dish had been hotter, it would have been better. For my entree, I ordered the Rustic Skillet with country ham, red bliss hash, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers and scrambled eggs topped with black pepper gravy. It was a good messy choice for a hangover meal. I really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy but I wish there had been more because the potatoes were a little dry and the gravy helped cover that up. My friend got their spinach and tomato grilled cheese which was melty, goat cheesy, and fantastic. Overall this was a nice lazy Saturday brunch experience and I would try Crave again!
(4)Tim K.
At some point,, you have to get out of your way to find a new spot. Leaving the craziness from downtown behind. Yelp suggested to go here if you wanted the best mac 'n cheese in town and since i haven't tried a lot of that, we should start our first taste with the best right? Crave might be one of the higher end restaurants in this area. It has a cosy and welcoming interior. The hostess guided us to a comfortable booth. When our waitress, Molly, came to introduce us to the menu, we asked what she would suggest. Unfortunately, she only knew how to suggest the most expensive items listed on the menu which I think isn't the proper way to so it but okay, i'll let it slide. When we ordered our food, she started to force us to add multiple items to make it more expensive to raise her tip percentage. That to me seemed inappropiate. It got worse even when she started to come over every 5 minutes to check up on us to see if we needed refills or something else to order. The food made up a lot for the service. The Mac 'n Cheese were perfect! Nice and creamy but not too heavy as a starter. As an entree i had the lobster farfalle and my compnay went for the grilled salmon. It was so good that we shared both dished. There were use chunks of lobster in the pasta so don't bother asking for extra. The salmon was perfectky charred and moist. All by all a good dinner if you don't mind the pushy service
(4)Zaida J.
I intend to return one day and ideally my experience will be better, but I definitely left disappointed. We decided to check out Crave today for lunch to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu. The good - excellent service! Our waters were always filled, he was personable, got our orders right, attentive without being intrusive, two thumbs up. The bad - the food was not impressive! Some was downright bad. For lunch Restaurant Week, they offer 3 courses for $15. Good price! We both ordered the cheesy risotto tot with truffle cheddar dip. Looking back to see exactly what it was called makes me realize from eating it, I had no idea there was cheese. It seriously tasted like your standard tater tot. And to be honest, it wasn't even as good as Sonic's tater tots when they are on point. Didn't catch the cheese in the tot nor in the cheddar dip. I love cheddar! Usually a distinctive cheese. Same with truffle... I hear truffle and pretty much assume a strong flavor. Overall this app was bland, pretty basic. I ordered the cheddar broccoli soup. Yum! Very much enjoyed this. I ALMOST ordered the side salad, which my friend did. I ALMOST ordered it because when she was being told a run down of the dressings, our waiter mentioned the cucumber vinaigrette which sounded really good. He mentioned there was a hint of garlic. Well I'm glad I didn't because my friend did choose that and the garlic taste was STRONG. Strong enough that she wanted a mint; definitely overpowered the cucumber flavor that was expected to be front and center. We both ordered the fish tacos. It was strange because they were inconsistent. She said the flour tortillas were rubbery. The first fish taco of mine wasn't, but my other two were. Then her fish tacos were VERY greasy. She actually had puddles of grease that came out while eating. My plate only had a few drops. Her was so spicy, she mentioned a few times. I could taste the heat but it wasn't anything overpowering on mine. At one point she must have gotten a hunk of heat because she started choking, then her eyes watered and she really had to compose herself! It was rough going for her. We both agreed besides the heat, there was just no flavor and we both added salt to our fish. I love good fish tacos so this just added to my overall disappointment. They were SUPER nice, we were honest about not being happy with the fish tacos (mainly cause they kept asking and we'd already said the rest was fine, when it really just wasn't all that great). The manager even came over, seemed to feel really bad, comped my friend's fish tacos and asked we come back to give them another shot. We probably will but I live in N Charleston, she lives in Summerville, so just no guarantees with Mt Pleasant being a drive. The closest is when we're at work which is still a good 15/20 minute drive. If I do and it's a better experience, I'll certainly update!
(2)Tiffany P.
Amazing food. Lobster Mac n cheese was so so good, completing deserving of all awards it's won. I also had a jalapeño cilantro margarita, it was to die for. Like nothing I have ever tasted. Another must try on the menu was the crispy potato salad. Not like any potato salad you've ever had. Crave has amazing gourmet food and a nice laid back atmosphere.
(5)Paul G.
We came to Crave for brunch on Saturday morning shortly after they opened. We were promptly taken back to a large banquette table. Our waiter was fantastic! He was funny, honest and very accommodating. Our party had the big breakfast, omelets, monte cristo, eggs Benedict and the skillet breakfast. All were fantastic and the portions were huge!! You could have split the omelet which came with so many fillings! The prices were moderate and well worth the amount and quality of the food. We will be repeat customers.
(5)T D.
Picked up lobster mac and cheese from here for take out today. I read the menu thinking it was 15 dollars but instead it came to a whopping 25 dollars (10 for the Mac and cheese plus an additional 15 for lobster). I was not impressed by the Mac and cheese. It wasn't the worst I've ever had but certainly not the best and certainly not worth 25 dollars. I think there was way too much cream in the Mac and cheese. Way too heavy for me. With that being said, the staff and atmosphere seemed nice. I just thought that after all the hype for the Mac and cheese, it came up short.
(2)Bonnie B.
I've dined at Crave 2x! I give it 3.5 stars! First time was take out & it was all good & packaged very nicely, portions are generous & we ordered a bit too much but that's a good thing. Had dinner at the bar 2 nights ago. Our bartender happened to be the GM Anthony & he was very pleasant & suggested a wine for me that was outstanding. It was a Vino Verde or something like that... Delicious!! My son shared a tuna appetizer... It was good but not amazing. We then shared the lobster pasta which was delicious but trust me it is meant to be shared. Very rich. Very good. Here's what I wish... I wish they had an awesome vegetarian entree! Maybe a house-made quinoa burger, perhaps a pasta full of a delicious veggie combo, how about a chef's choice veggie plate with 4-5 offerings? I've read the reviews & sounds like the bread is phenomenal but it was not offered to us. Maybe it's a brunch thing. We will definitely be back & will keep our fingers crossed that the menu reflects an understanding of a veggie foodie!!
(3)Tom G.
I'd rather have great service in a dive bar than so-so service in a 5 star restaurant. Crave gave me the best of both - fantastic service, a great atmosphere and wonderful food all at the same place and time. My wife and I popped in for an early bite after seeing a movie nearby. We opted for a high top table in the bar area. Butch greeted us quickly and was very welcoming. I asked about the beers on tap and he was exceptionally knowledgeable and helped me make a great choice. He suggested a drink for my wife based on her preferences and it was great also. My wife had the tilapia and I had the beef and pork bolognese. Both were A+; the bolognese was enough for a take away box that I enjoyed the next day for lunch. We were checked on several times without being pestered. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. Love this place and will be back!
(5)Michelle W.
The macaroni and cheese is a must! I had the cedar plank salmon and my husband had the strip steak. Only thing that I didn't like was that my salmon came with warm Mediterranean salad that wasn't that good. I do recommend stopping in though. They are dog friendly and have outdoor seating.
(4)Drew E.
Nice brunch selection and portion sizes. Wouldn't recommend the bloody mary though.
(3)Alexis H.
I took my dad here to celebrate Father's Day over the weekend, and let me just say it was an incredible choice. They have a good selection of beers. I had the grapefruit shandy which was a very good, refreshing choice. The bread service is by far my favorite bread service I have ever had. Delicious muffins with creamy butter. For our meal we got the Mac and cheese with bacon which was fantastic! We also got the hanger steak (absolutely to die for) and shared both meals. For us this was the perfect amount. More than enough for two people. We decided against a dessert as we had Ben and Jerry's waiting for us at home, but the dessert menu sounded fantastic as well.
(4)Mary F.
Today I visited Crave for the second and last time. My first trip was so disappointing that the only reason I returned was the $25 gift certificate I received upon complaining. I ordered a side salad with the bacon vinaigrette which was palatable but nothing special. The dressing also had a bit of a jelly like consistency which was off putting. For my entree I order the "world famous" 4 time Mac Off winner mac and cheese with scallops added. My complaints have no end with this horror show of macaroni. First, I got charged an extra $15 dollars for the scallops, which I received two of. Two overcooked silver dollar sized scallops. $7.50 a scallop. Made my mac and cheese a whopping $25. Was it worth it? Not even close. Beneath the lacklustre scallops was a beautiful bowl of pasta and cheese sauce. The taste did not match the presentation. My first bite was a half cooked piece of pasta. Not al dente, mostly uncooked. I believe the pasta could have boiled another good 3-4 minutes before being perfectly al dente. The sauce....oh dear....the sauce, it was gritty and to be completely honest, tasted like liquefied white cheddar Cheez Its. The sauce left a weird feeling on my palate. Seriously, if this what it tastes like when it wins the Mac Off every year, I wonder what the loser's mac tastes like. If this mac and cheese won, the runner up must've served the judges Kraft box macaroni. Overall, I'm lost as to why there has been much hype for this place. There are so many better places in Mt. Pleasant, that I can't imagine ever eating here again. If I were stranded on a desert island with no food whatsoever & you offered me a platter of food from Crave to save my life, I would gnaw off my own foot and eat it instead. Seriously.
(1)Chris H.
The Mac and Cheese was incredible. My scallops were excellent and the service was superb.
(5)Cande S.
Food was presented nicely but it lacked flavor. My meat was dry and had a lot of nerves. Not satisfying at all. Good Service!
(2)Amanda C.
We popped in for brunch on our way home from vacation from IOP. Our food was delicious and my Bloody Mary was perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly service. Brian was our waiter and was very helpful with the local secrets of good fresh seafood to take back with us. He was adorable, we will definitely be back!
(5)Steve P.
We could ate Mac and cheese bacon all dinner. The portions and service where wonderful. This is a must go to after the beach. Well worth the money
(5)George B.
Hadn't been back to Charleston since moving 5years ago & wanted to see what's new from a restaurant perspective in Mount P. The area that Crave is in is new, clean and upscale urban. Crave itself has a spartan ambiance & decor, but dark wood and a wide open floor plan is appealing. I had the strip steak, which was cooked perfectly. As good as it was, I felt it was a bit overpriced.
(3)Joan M.
I love Crave, Ouside Seating, full bar, fantastic food, She Crab soup to die for, Hangar Steak Salad unbelievably good. I've been here a few times & it never gets old. I will be back. Great wine list also. Staff are more than helpful & a great vibe nightly. It gets busy which is always a great sign.
(4)Courtney D.
We stumbled upon this place on open table looking for a brunch spot. Unfortunately, the did not serve brunch during the week but it was OK. We ended up getting the mac and cheese with bacon which was VERY good. We had high expectations coming from the BK area where mac and cheese is a delicacy...we must say, it did come close to the meals we've had up here. For lunch we had the summer salad and turkey sandwich. Both were made well and yummy. The servers were also extremely attentive which made the experience even better! My only complaint was that the price did add up pretty quick..adding bacon on to the mac and cheese and shrimp to the salad made it a bit pricey. It was no biggie, but still I would have like to have spent a little less.
(4)Lindsey D.
We stopped in here for dinner based on yelp reviews during our vacation at iop. It was delicious and we had wonderful service. I had the chicken Marsala with risotto and broccoli. The plate looked beautiful and I ate every bite! Very glad we made the short drive off the island!
(5)Nancy F.
Food was good. Mac and cheese is excellent. Service was nice but they brought all our food out at once. This was after we specifically asked for it to be salad first, then dinner. They were very nice about it and apologized. We ordered dessert to try the Berry Cobbler. It was so so. The chef needs to put more fruit in it and have a better crust. We can make a better cobbler. Average experience.
(3)David N.
Oh my gosh. Just left Crave and they charged $45 for a 8 ounce filet. They paid $13 per pound for the meat. Can you say gouge!!!! They wrap it in prosciutto so maybe $29 for the steak. The mashed potatoes were hard and cold. The side of broccoli which was advertised as "steamed" was soaked in butter. The steak was listed as "market price". Doom on me for not asking but I had a filet at Morgan Creek Grille (IOP) on Monday that was $28 and tasted MUCH better. Not bitter, just feel robbed.
(2)E M.
Went to Crave for Sunday brunch. Sat outside on the patio with our dog and the food was delicious! Amazing breakfast sandwiches! Can't wait for another Sunday bike ride for brunch.
(5)Lisa J.
I've been here several times, and have taken food out as well. My two stars is directly related to our dinner there on June 8th. In general I think the food here is good, the people are nice and the space is also nice - a little dark for my tastes, but not uncomfortable to be in. Our waiter was a little stiff, not the usual friendly southern service you run into most often in Mt. P. He offered up drinks, we got a cucumber special drink (very pretty and refreshing) and a couple of glasses of wine. Tried the tartare appetizer - good. Nothing amazing, but good. My daughters each got a salad and I ordered the sea bass (market priced). I neglected to ask the market price, but I am in Charleston often and it's generally in line with most restaurants. The food was good, the bass was a little overcooked, I had thought to send it back, but I'm not a fan of doing that unless it's a complete train wreck; so I didn't. When I got the check I was floored to see that the market price of my dish was $40. What the heck was that? I didn't pay $40 for an entree at Husk the week before and now I'm in Mt. Pleasant and paying that price? Aside from that, the waiter should have informed me since a $40 dish is the highest price meal they offer. So two stars it is for being seriously overpriced. Like I said - the food here is good. But in no way was that dish a $40 meal. So be warned to ask before you order here.
(2)Gabriella B.
Mac n cheese was to die for. Best mac n cheese I've ever had. I had their Spinach & tomato grilled cheese, and it was delicious. The salad was also great with real quality flavorful feta cheese. The lemon vinaigrette was light and flavorful, and a great choice for my salad. My date ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. The fried crispy potato salad was wonderful and flavorful, and tasted almost like california's animal style In-n-out fries. My date's chicken came uncooked, but the way the staff handled everything was A+. They brought him a new plate immediately and handled it with so much grace and kindness, we felt really great. We ate the baked apple crisp for dessert, and it came in this big bowl. It was warm and came with cold ice cream and the contrast between temperature and textures was great. They are doing a great job and I long for the day I return to South Carolina to have some of that Mac-n-cheese again. So creamy and rich. Unbelievable. You can tell they really do make an effort to get the best ingredients for the meal, and the quality is superb.
(4)Michael R.
Ordered 3 of the macaroni and cheese, and 1 Turkey Club. (Delivered by Quick fox, a very competent delivery service.) The quality of the food was excellent, and very fresh. (I had a small piece of garlic that managed to survive the mincing), good fresh fries, and well done pasta (not perfect, but I'm willing to accept slightly under done pasta as part of the fresh made process. ) The mac n cheese was very good, but avoid the hype, nothing can live up to that.
(5)Mark S.
Excellent. Mac and cheese lived up to high expectations. My wife's pulled pork tacos were also very good. Sweet tea hit the spot. I would definitely returning in Charleston area again.
(5)Joshua M.
Our female bartender(I unfortunately did not get her name was amazing. We came in for some Togo food and had a few drinks. She was everything you want in a bartender. One of the best. ~Josh
(5)Brendan S.
Fun spot for drinks and appetizers! Admittedly, never had an entire dinner but it's probably good also! Also, a great place for dessert and night caps!!! Enjoy !
(4)Alicia Z.
My husband and I had a quick minute to get some food, we ended up getting it to go. I have the chicken Caesar salad, which was ok. The salad was fresh, and the dressing was tasty, the chicken was just very bland. I have had the mussel appetizer in the past and it was DELISH, it was just ok this time. I'm sure they will redeem themselves next time (just not with the chicken Caesar salad)
(4)Zach V.
Fries are a must here. If you're doing an appetizer grab the pork sliders. They don't come with BBQ sauce which is the only downside but again, the fries are great
(4)Liz D.
Went here for the first time this past Saturday. We were able to make a reservation fairly last minute, but when we got there, they were pretty busy. We were seated immediately, and every person we ran across was really nice and helpful! The food was good, but felt a little overpriced for what we got. We started out with the mac & cheese, and it was completely worth it...very creamy and cheesy. I ended up choosing the least tasty meal of the evening (it was still pretty good, just not as good as it could have been). I had the grilled cheese with a side salad and a side of risotto. The grilled cheese is made with goat cheese, spinach, and tomato, and the tomato really didn't help anything. It was just watery and tasteless, but once discarded, the sandwich was pretty good--just overpriced. The risotto was awesome, garlicy and creamy. I also had two of the specialty cocktails--the maple old fashioned before the meal (didn't taste like maple, but was well made) and the rosemary mai tai for dessert (which was just OK). My husband had the hanger steak, and it was completely delicious (I stole some when I realized my sandwich wasn't going to cut it). I would order that next time in a heartbeat, and I'm not usually a huge steak eater. Our friend ordered the salmon, which was also good but arrived not cooked to the temp she requested. They happily fixed it for her quickly, which is always good. We had several members of the staff take care of our table and the service was very good despite their busyness. One overheard me mention my friend's birthday and offered her a free dessert and champagne, which was really nice of them. Overall, I'd go back again (but order differently). Most of the food was really good, and even the things I didn't love as much were fine, just overpriced. It sounds like they do some really nice special events (there was a Halloween prix fixe that we read about while there), so lots to look forward to!
(4)Jeff C.
Oh my! First time visit. Will definitely not be our last. Food is full of fresh, home cooked flavor. Can't beat their Saturday brunch menu, available until 4pm. Shrimp & grits for $11...deal Lucile!
(5)Jennifer B.
We've passed by this restaurant 100 times and finally stopped in this Sunday around noon. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated. We were surprised to see that it's actually a fairly large place. Waitress was very friendly. I ordered the cobb salad with a cup of the she-crab soup. Soup was good. Salad was huge. But my husband's shrimp and grits was a total disaster. It was like a deconstructed flavorless shrimp and grits. The cheddar cheese wasn't melted into the grits but sprinkled off to one corner (and even when mixed in didn't melt). Plain steamed shrimp and chorizo, that didn't even look like chorizo, was placed on top. And in a tiny metal ramekin was a sauce closer to sausage gravy. Huh?? It was dry and just plain weird. It's not hard to make shrimp and grits, but if you're going to serve it in the low country, you better get it right! Sorry, won't be back.
(2)Elaine M.
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner --I have done them all and Crave does it right. The brunch is one of the best deals in town - for $11 you get corn muffins, a decent sized entree with fruit, & a tea/soda or for $5 you can add 2 mimosas or bloody marys- can't beat that. I have had the seasonal salads as well as the caesar and they are both delicious. Definitely order the mac and cheese for the table to share. It recently won an award at a Mac off for best mac and cheese and is a must have. It is super rich though so you only want a few bites but it is great to split with a table. Other highlights? The flank steak and turkey sandwich.
(4)Kristina K.
Crave is pretty good if you get there later in the evening - when it's busy the service takes forever. That being said, our food has always been good. A little under seasoned at times, but still good! One thing I like is that they have clearly marked gluten free items and they have a note saying "Ask your server how to make any entree gluten free." They have gluten free bread for burgers and sandwiches, and the servers are knowledgeable about what is in the dishes. Overall, Crave is a great option for people with or without gluten issues to dine together. Get the coconut cake or the salted chocolate cake - both delicious and gluten free! Be warned, though, the coconut cake is HUGE.
(4)Misty M.
Absolutely one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten at. We ate brunch and dinner here it was so good! I won't even tell you about the wonderful service and how clean it is!
(5)Dave R.
Too much hype. Our biggest disappointment of this trip to Charleston area. Once inside you will really realize you are just in a painted strip shopping space. Music is loud enough it was hard to hear our waitress. The Mac and cheese was as good as reported!! Try it it's awesome. Description of food did not match the plate. In other words food was just ok. Drink ( vodka tonic) watered down. so many other choice in the area. We thought this was going to be better.
(2)Melissa C.
Prolly THE best Mac and cheese I have ever had!! I love to have them throw in some bacon or chicken. ALLLL I can say is DOUBLE YUM. Lets just say there is a reason they have won FIVE times in a year for best mac and cheese.
(5)Jeff A.
TERRIBLE service, overpriced food. Gave our table away for a party of 12 and made us wait for a half hour. Would not come back, I place is garbage. So many better choices in Charleston.
(2)Maureen K.
Enjoyed a great comfort food dinner last night. The fried chicken was great and the potatoes were delicious. My guest had the mac and cheese and she thought it was the best she ever had. The waiter was attentive and the manager came by to see how we liked dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(5)Waylon T.
A local recommended Crave for breakfast. It's located Ina trendy area and offered a delicious selection of food. We were after breakfast and was pleased to find a brunch menu. I ordered Shrimp and Grits while wife enjoyed a hearty breakfast plate and kids had Yogurt and granola and 3 adult sized pancakes from the kids menu. Everything was prepared and we had no complaints about anything. Adult portions are not oversized and what is prepared is more than adequate. If you are looking to gorge yourself go somewhere else. If your looking for great food in a laid back comfortable atmosphere, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Fae W.
Food was really good but had such a long wait. Service was decent could have been better. Great location, very convenient.
(4)